Easy Cheesy Taco Casserole Recipe (with Ground Beef)
Published Aug 21, 2024 Updated Aug 08, 2025
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This taco casserole is what happens when your favorite Tex-Mex flavors meet the magic of an easy, oven-baked dinner. With tender ground beef, melty cheese, and soft tortillas layered up and baked until golden and bubbly, this one-dish taco dinner is about to be your new weeknight favorite.
Why You’ll Love This Taco Casserole Recipe
Y’all know I’m the casserole queen! And this easy taco casserole is a personal favorite I come back to again and again. It’s packed with everything you love about taco night, all baked into a cheesy, comforting family dinner casserole that’s perfect for busy schedules.
This Mexican ground beef casserole combines simple pantry staples like taco seasoning blend, salsa, corn, black beans, and green chiles with hearty protein and cheese. You can prep it in just 15 minutes, then let the oven do the rest. Oh, and the leftovers? Even better the next day.
Looking for another comfort food classic with a twist? Try my Healthier Doritos Taco Casserole Recipe with Ground Beef for a fun and crunchy spin. Or, for another baked favorite, check out my Easy Chicken Tortilla Casserole Recipe.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Ground beef or turkey: The savory, protein-packed base for the casserole. Use lean ground beef or ground turkey, depending on your preference. You can also make this taco casserole with chicken if desired.
- Taco seasoning: You can use homemade taco seasoning or store-bought. Either way, it brings that signature Tex-Mex punch.
- Chunky salsa & tomato sauce: These add moisture and flavor to the filling while creating the perfect saucy base.
- Beef broth: Helps bind everything together without making it too soupy.
- Onion & garlic: Aromatics that build a savory flavor foundation.
- Green chiles: Mild heat and a little tang.
- Black beans & corn: Add texture, nutrition, and color to the filling.
- Shredded cheese: I love a Mexican blend for maximum meltability. Dairy-free cheese works too!
- Corn tortillas: Cut into strips and layer to soak up all the goodness. Flour tortillas work, but corn keeps it from getting soggy.
- Salt & pepper: To balance and boost all the other flavors.
How to Make This Taco Casserole
Step 1: Preheat your oven to 375°F. In a large skillet, heat olive oil and cook the diced onion until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for another 1-2 minutes.
Step 2: Add ground beef or turkey and cook until browned and fully cooked. Drain any excess grease. Stir in taco seasoning blend, salsa, tomato sauce, and beef broth.
Step 3: Add the green chiles, corn, and black beans.
Step 4: Mix everything well.
Step 5: In a 9×13 baking dish, spread a thin layer of the meat mixture.
Step 6: Add a layer of tortilla strips, then another layer of meat, followed by cheese.
Step 7: Repeat, ending with a cheese layer on top. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 10-15 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Step 8: Let it cool slightly before serving. Garnish with your favorite toppings like Greek yogurt, guacamole, diced tomatoes, or fresh cilantro.
Mac’s Pro Tip
Expert Tips + Serving Ideas
- Want to add more veggies? Toss in some sautéed bell peppers or spinach. Craving something extra hearty? Add a layer of cooked Mexican rice between the tortillas.
- This taco bake is a lifesaver on hectic nights and makes a satisfying oven-baked taco recipe that the whole family devours. Serve it with tortilla chips or corn chips for dipping. Or pair it with a crunchy side like my Fajita Stuffed Sweet Potatoes.
- Need a protein-packed bowl instead? Try my Steak Burrito Bowl (Chipotle Copycat) next taco night!
Mac’s Pro Tip
How to Keep Taco Casserole from Getting Soggy
Use corn tortillas instead of flour. They hold up better under sauce. Bake uncovered for the last 10 minutes to let steam escape and the top layer crisp up.
Taco Casserole FAQs
Absolutely. Ground turkey makes this a bit lighter while still being flavorful and hearty.
Yes! Assemble it up to 24 hours in advance, cover, and refrigerate. Bake when ready to serve.
Try Greek yogurt or sour cream, guacamole, sliced avocado, diced tomatoes, black olives, or cilantro. A topping bar is a fun idea!
Transfer leftovers to an airtight container and refrigerate for 3-4 days. Reheat in the microwave and garnish fresh.
This cheesy taco casserole makes dinner simple and satisfying, no taco shells or weeknight stress required. For another delicious twist on taco night, don’t miss my Taco Salad with Avocado Ranch.
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Easy Cheesy Taco Casserole Recipe (with Ground Beef)
Ingredients
- 2 lbs ground beef lean or ground turkey
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2-3 tbsp homemade taco seasoning mix or 1 packet taco seasoning
- 1 cup chunky salsa
- ¼ cup tomato sauce
- 2 tbsp beef broth
- 1 medium onion diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 3 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend or sub dairy free cheese of choice
- 4 oz can green chiles
- 15 oz can can corn drained
- 15 oz can black beans drained and rinsed
- 3-4 corn tortillas cut into 1″ strips (or substitute with low-carb or flour tortillas)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). In a large skillet, heat 1 tbsp olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook until it becomes translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for another 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Add the ground beef or ground turkey to the skillet. Cook until browned and fully cooked through, breaking it up with a spatula as it cooks.Drain any excess fat.
- Add the taco seasoning, stirring to combine. Stir in the salsa, tomato sauce, and beef broth. Mix well. Add the green chiles, corn, and black beans to the skillet. Stir to combine.
- In a 9×13 inch baking dish, spread a thin layer of the meat mixture on the bottom. Arrange a layer of tortilla strips over the meat mixture. Add another layer of the meat mixture, followed by a layer of shredded Mexican cheese. Repeat layers, ending with a final layer of cheese on top.
- Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Remove the casserole from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes.
- Serve warm, garnished with your favorite toppings such as Greek yogurt, guacamole, diced tomatoes, or fresh cilantro.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Great advice! I’ll definitely be implementing some of these tips.